McKenry's homer in the 11th lifts Rockies past Mariners 7-5.

Colorado Rockies' Michael McKenry, center, has his jersey pulled over his head by a teammate as Charlie Blackmon, front left, and Nick Hundley join in the celebration after McKenry's two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the 11th inning of

David Zalubowski

August 05, 2015

DENVER (AP) Michael McKenry whiffed when he had a chance to be a hero last time. He didn't miss when he got the chance again.

McKenry hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 11th inning and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-5 on Wednesday.

McKenry ended the 4-hour, 7-minute game when he hit Mayckol Guaipe's 2-2 curveball into the left-field seats for his fourth home run of the season. It was McKenry's first walk-off hit in his career.

''Luckily I found the barrel and didn't hit it into someone's glove,'' McKenry said. ''I knew it right when I hit it, which is even more gratifying. I've never done that in the big leagues.''

It was fitting after he failed in a similar opportunity against Seattle closer Carson Smith on Monday night. Colorado came back from a six-run deficit in that game but lost 8-7 after McKenry pinch hit in the ninth and struck out with the tying run on third.

''He was beating himself up for the at-bat the other night,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''He's such a team guy and somebody that comes to the park worrying about the team first. It's good to see those guys have a moment of glory. That was a big-time hit.''

It was a tough ending for Guaipe, who was recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday.

''I tried to keep the ball down,'' he said. ''It hung up and was right in the middle.''

Seattle's Nelson Cruz doubled and singled to extend his hitting streak to 16 games but failed to homer for the first time in six games.

The Rockies' winning rally started with Ben Paulsen's one-out single off Guaipe (0-3). McKenry worked the count even before he delivered his big hit.

Yohane Flande (2-1) pitched the top of the 11th to get the win.

Seattle starter Taijuan Walker followed his complete game one-hitter against Minnesota with 7 1-3 innings. He allowed five hits and gave up Carlos Gonzalez's three-run homer in the sixth but was otherwise dominant.

''I looked at (bench coach Tom Runnells) after CarGo's homer and said, `These guys are killing us 3-3.' That's what it felt like,'' Weiss said. ''Walker was in complete control of the game and he was pretty filthy. To get three runs with one swing, that was pretty huge.''

The euphoria didn't last. Franklin Gutierrez answered with a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh to give Seattle a 5-3 lead.

Colorado rallied for two runs in the ninth off Fernando Rodney to force extra innings.

''The walk hurt (Rodney),'' Mariners manager Lloyd McLendon said. ''These type of ballparks and you walk guys or you misplay a ball, it usually comes back to haunt you.''

Seattle scored three runs in the fourth, with Walker hitting an RBI double.

Colorado, which managed just two hits through the first five innings, rallied to tie it in the sixth on Gonzalez's 22nd home run, which traveled an estimated 465 feet.

''I thought he might throw me that split again,'' Gonzalez said. ''I was sitting on that pitch, he throws it at 90 and I was just trying to barrel the ball. Right off the bat I knew it was gone.''

CROWD CONTROL

Rockies left fielder Kyle Parker covered a lot of ground to record the second out of the sixth inning. Parker raced into foul territory to track down Ketel Marte's fly. He ran out of room but leapt into the stands as he caught the ball, prompting an ovation from the 30,196 fans.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Brooks Brown is still working his way back from right shoulder inflammation. Weiss said there is no timetable for Brown, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 18.

UP NEXT

Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (2-2, 4.47) will open a three-game series at home against Texas on Friday. Iwakuma tossed 8 2-3 innings of one-run ball against Minnesota on Sunday.

Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-4, 4.87) opens a seven-game road trip in Washington on Saturday. De La Rosa got Colorado's lone win in a four-game series at St. Louis last week.

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